The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-10-01
Jones' Life Insurance.

When the life insurance agent cor.
nered Jones out in the cornfield the
other day and persuaded him that a IS.
900 policy was just what he needed in
order that his friends might reverence
his memory, there was not man who
was on better terms with the world in
general than was Simon Jones.
But the agent had not been gone an
hour before everything seemed changed.
Not that any Of his friends or family
had ever intimated that sum of that
kind would help assuage their poignant
grief when he should have shuffled of
this mortal coil, yet Jones could moi
Danish the idea that it would be fine
thing to have five thousand dollars in
clear cash. He had taken out the pol.
icy in his wife's favor of course, for he
would have told you an hour ago thai
such women as Sally Jones were very
few. But now it seemed to him all al
once that it would be rather unfair fol
Sally to be cavortin' around with all
that money while he mouldered away
quite forgotten by them all. To be
sure he was strong and healthy-not a
better man in the county, twas said
but then Sally was strong too, she
would be sure to outlive him-sure to
get that five thousand dollars and be a
dashing young widow like Simon had
seen and always detested.
Sally was not very stylish or dashing
at present, certainly. Simon could see
her from where he was at work, hanging
out the weekly wash, with screaming
baby under one arm. But, then, who
knew how much style Sally might de-
velop if invested with such magnifi-
cent sum as five thousand dollars.
He unhiteheql. t Ibis, his horsss M ana dEQXs
conviction he was not long for this
world. His solemn face at dinner called
forth remarks from the kind-hearted
Sally, and then it came out about the
policy Simon had taken out that morn
ing. Sally was delighted. "Five thou.
sand dollars" she said, smiling into
Simon's gloomy face. "That would
be nice sum for me and the children
in case you should be taken away
nothing like providing for rainy day."
"You wouldn't git it unless died, "
snapped the irritated Simon.
"Course not which hope won't be
for long time yet," replied Sally
"but still it's a good thing. Now,
there was Lee Barnes, who died, and
his insurance was two thousand, and
whatever Mary would a-done without
that money is more"
"If you think I'm such weak
shake. down as Lee Barnes, you are
greatly Mistaken" interrupted Simon,
angrily. "He never was no count,
and his wife was fauntin' round tryin'
to git married again fore he'd beer
dead six months. Don't hold up then
Barnes for no pattern to me"
Sally was astonished at this outburst
from the generally good-natured Simon.
"I never said you was like Lee
Barnes" she retorted, 81 said he left
his wife two thousand dollars, and he
did, too"
"Well, who cares if he did ?" cried
Simon angrily, rising and leaving the
kitchen in huff. He was convinced
at once that Sally would much prefer
that five thousand dollars to him,
alive.
"That's the way with women," he
muttered. "All they think of is money ;
and I've always been good husband
Nobody can't say haven't"
The fact that neither Sally nor any
one else had ever disputed the fact did
not occur to the misguided Simon, who
went about his work moody and silent,
his mind filled with bitterness toward
every one.
Sally marveled some over Simon's
queer behavior, but finally concluded
something had worried him, the horse:
may be, one of them was rather inclined
to balk, he would be all right by supper
time.
But supper brought no change, mol
the next day nor the next, and Sally's
questions seemed to anger him.
care you sick, Simon ?" she inquir.
ed tenderly; cor have you heard bad
news? Somethin's bothering you
what is it ?"
"I tell you there is nothing the mat
ter" replied Simon, sullenly, sitting
down in a chair in which some of the
children had just upset cup of water
He sprang to his feet so suddenly thai
Sally, understanding the cause, laughed
long and loud.
At another time Simon would have
joined in the good-natured mirth, bu
now, considering himself in the light
of martyr, he only gazed contempt
uously on the irreverent Sally, who still
giggled behind her gingham apron.
"Oh you can laugh" he sneered
"you have nothing to trouble you, and
when I'm gone you're safe."
"Where are you going, Sim ?" criet
Sally, eagerly forgetting her laughter
and failing to see the significance o
this cutting remark. That Simon stand
ing there before her was seriously talk
ing of dying never occurred to her
"Where are you going, Simon7" sh'
reiterated. eff you're going down tt
Snyder's, l promised Maria some 0
them crooked-necked squashes out il
the lot, and you can take them over if
Simon waited to hear no more, bu
flung himself off muttering: "Hanl
the women anyhow; none of them go
a bit of sense"